Structural heart disease refers to a number of conditions that may be congenital
in nature or abnormalities caused by other diseases or simple wear and tear that
may come as a person ages. These can include:
Many of these conditions have negative effects on a person's quality of life, and
some, when left untreated, can cause heart failure
and may lead to death. PFO could be one of the reasons for a stroke in a young age,
particularly in women.
Specialists at the UF Health Cardiovascular Center in Jacksonville, Florida, lead
the region in care for structural heart conditions with advanced diagnosis and treatment
options found only at a leading academic medical center. The center is also a valuable
option for second opinions concerning diagnosis and treatment options.
Symptoms of Structural Heart Disease
Some structural heart diseases have no symptoms and are found only upon examination,
while many include symptoms such as:
- Heart palpitations
- Shortness of breath
- Heart murmur
- Migraine headaches
- Difficulty doing exercise or other physical activity
- Blood clots
- Swelling in the legs, feet or abdomen
- Low oxygen levels
- Transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a "mini-stroke"
Many of these symptoms may also be associated with other diseases and conditions,
so it is important that if you are experiencing any of these, you should seek advice
from your medical doctor.
Diagnosing Structural Heart Disease
The UF Health Cardiovascular Center employs a number of techniques to determine
the existence and severity of structural heart disease. Tests may include:
- A complete physical exam to assess your overall health.
- An echocardiogram (echo) to obtain a detailed image of your heart.
- An electrocardiogram (EKG, ECG) to monitor the electrical activity of your heart
for potential rhythm problems.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to capture 3D images of your heart to check for
structural or functional problems.
- Computed tomography (CT) to provide a detailed image of the heart and surrounding
blood vessels.
- Cardiac catheterization, a minimally invasive procedure used to evaluate heart function.
- A "bubble test" to see if a saltwater solution passes between two chambers of your
heart when injected into the heart.
- A chest X-ray to check your heart and lungs to help rule out other conditions that
could cause similar symptoms.
Treating Structural Heart Disease
Some people have a structural heart defect and do not experience symptoms or problems.
In these cases, no treatment is usually necessary. However, when structural heart
disease causes problems with the function of your heart and related systems, it
can lead to heart failure.
In some cases, heart conditions can be controlled with medication that can lessen
symptoms associated with valvular or structural heart disease. Certain medications
can help control irregular heartbeats, provide relief from discomfort associated
with heart disease and help prevent blood clots.
When medication therapy is not enough, a number of advanced minimally invasive or
open surgical options may be used to treat or correct heart disease conditions.
Our cardiovascular specialists work as a team to determine the right procedure for
each individual patient for the best outcomes possible. These may include:
- Valve repair, reconstruction or replacement, which, depending on each individual,
may be done minimally invasively
or through traditional open-heart procedures
- Transcatheter, also known as percutaneous, procedures, during which our experienced
interventionalists use alternative methods to traditional open surgeries for high-risk
and medium risk patients to seal leaks and repair mitral valves, and replace aortic
valves. These procedures may include:
Why Choose UF Health for Treatment of Structural Heart Disease
Our doctors have been leaders in percutaneous transcatheter interventions and minimally
invasive heart and chest surgery for more than two decades. Our interventional cardiologists
and cardiothoracic (heart and chest) surgeons are professors and researchers in
one of the nation's largest cardiothoracic training programs at the University of
Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville.
The UF Health Cardiovascular Center – Jacksonville offers more treatment options
than other facilities, which in many cases means better outcomes for cardiovascular
patients. Because we are part of UF Health, we are committed to staying on the leading
edge of what's coming next in cardiovascular treatment and research. What's more,
our surgeons and cardiologists take a team approach to assessing each individual
patient so we can create a customized, effective treatment plan.
Jacksonville Structural Heart Disease Specialists
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971
Theodore A. Bass, M.D.
Professor
Chief, Division of Cardiology; Medical Director, UF Health Cardiovascular Center - Jacksonville
Specializes in Cardiovascular Disease; Interventional Cardiology
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3156
Andres M. Pineda Maldonado, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Specializes in Cardiovascular Disease; Interventional Cardiology; Structural Heart Disease Interventions
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2729
John Pirris, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Specializes in Thoracic Surgery
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3072
Srinivasan Sattiraju, M.B.B.S. (M.D.)
Assistant Professor
Medical Director, Cardiovascular Noninvasive Laboratory
Specializes in Cardiovascular Disease
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2811
Daniel Soffer, M.D.
Associate Professor
Medical Director, Endovascular Cardiology
Specializes in Cardiovascular Disease; Interventional Cardiology
Structural Heart Disease Disease Program Locations
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201 B Lakeshore Point
St. Marys, GA 31558
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Suite 120
4555 Emerson Street
Jacksonville, FL 32207
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5th Floor, Ambulatory Care Center
655 West 8th Street
Jacksonville, FL 32209
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Suite 3600
15255 Max Leggett Parkway
Jacksonville, FL 32218
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8th Floor, Tower I
580 West 8th Street
Jacksonville, FL 32209